About us
# Houston Area SQL Server User Group (HASSUG)
A community for data professionals in Houston and beyond.
The Houston Area SQL Server User Group (HASSUG) is a welcoming community of Microsoft SQL Server and Data Platform professionals. We meet biweekly, with most sessions held virtually to make participation easy for everyone.
Our YouTube Channel is at h[ttps://www.youtube.com/@HASSUGConnect](https://www.youtube.com/@HASSUGConnect)
Our topics span the full data spectrum — SQL Server, Azure Data, AI,Fabric, PowerBI, Analytics, DevOps, Performance Tuning, Architecture and Professional Development; and anything else that helps data professionals grow.
We’re always excited to welcome new members, whether you’re just starting your data journey or have years of experience. If you’re interested in presenting, mentoring, or helping with the group, we’d love to hear from you.
# Our Commitment to Inclusion
HASSUG celebrates the diversity of our community. We strive to create an environment where every member feels respected, valued, and included — regardless of race, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, geography, religion, identity, or experience. Above all, we ask that all members treat one another with kindness and professionalism.
Our expectations for all participants include:
- Conduct yourself with integrity, respect, honesty, and credibility
- Approach all events and interactions with the highest standards of professionalism
- Embrace and include the diverse community of professionals and learners around you
If you experience or witness behavior that violates our Code of Conduct, please notify us at **paresh.motiwala@msftcommunity.com**.
HASSUG reserves the right to remove or bar any individual who violates our Code of Conduct from attending any portion of our events.
Upcoming events
2
HASSUG Update 3/16
·OnlineOnlineDear Friends
John Miner will be presenting a brand new topic about Data Build Tool.#### Description
Why are some many people using dbt? Even Microsoft is adding dbt jobs to Fabric.
Many people learn from the Jaffle Shop sample dbt project. However, the complexity of the project is quite simple. What I really wanted is a project that goes over the following dbt concepts:
• Seed raw data tables
• Transform raw data using views
• Support multiple databases with macros
• Capture slowly changing dimensions type 2
• Incremental loading of large data with append or merge
• Use ephemeral tables as a place holder
• Use dbt utils package to make a date dimension
• Create a dimensional model for reporting
• Save pre-canned queries in analyses directory
• Test data quality using property/schema files
• Output custom data quality exceptions to a table
• Create documentation based on model designFurther, he is also conducting a full day workshop on the same topic on Friday April 24th from 9-4:30 at Microsoft office. The link for registration is here
Link for Pinal Dave's session on SQL Server Performance Tuning on4/24 from 9-4:30 is open for registration here
Whereas the link for our AI and Analytics Saturday registration is open here
Please share the links above with your internal IT circles and social media.If you like to volunteer or speak, please contact us.
Regards.
Team HASSUG18 attendees
DAX UDFs in Power BI and Fabric - (In-Person)
Microsoft Corporate Office, 750 Town and Country Blvd Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77024, 750 Town and Country Blvd Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77024, Houston, TX, USFriends,
Marco Russo is travelling to Houston for his DAX Conference.
He has agreed to do an in-person session about DAX specially for our user group. We will provide food.The DAX language is the foundation of self-service Business Intelligence using the Microsoft stack. It is the language used to query and program semantic models in Fabric, Power BI, PowerPivot for Excel, and Analysis Services. Learning the basics of DAX is very simple, but mastering it is a different story because it requires a mindset that needs some study for both BI Professionals and Information Workers.
This session introduces the DAX Used-Defined Functions, the new feature announced in 2025 that should be GA soon!
A user-defined function is a DAX formula with parameters that can return values or tables. Parameters can be passed by value or by expressions. In this session, you learn how to define and consume user-defined functions in your semantic model, also using DAX Lib (https://daxlib.org).
If you like to attend his 3 day class on "Mastering DAX"
use this link https://sql.bi/c-HOUPUG26 .
He can still honor a 10% discount on this course if you can use the following discount code HOUPUG26.
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Meanwhile our registrations for AI/Analytics Conference (In-Person and Free) here https://sqlsaturday.com/2026-04-25-sqlsaturday1137/Feel free to share the info with your friends and IT friends in office.
If you like to speak or volunteer, please reach out to us.
Many more exciting things happening here , just stay tuned.Regards
Team HASSUG35 attendees
Past events
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